Hospital bed



May 15, 1962.

Filed Nov. 20, 1958 H. H. STRYKER HOSPITAL BED 4 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR.

I BY :9

s9 ATTOPNE 5 May 15, 1962 H. H. STRYKER HOSPITAL BED 4 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Nov. 20, 1958 May 15, .1962 H. H. STRYKER HOSPITAL BED 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 20, 1958 INVENTOR. Hat/[f A4 SIP/WA A 770 PNEV5 May 15, 1962 H. H. STRYKER HOSPITAL BED 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov.20, 1958 ATTOPNEVS United States Patent 3,034,152 HOSPITAL BED Homer H.Stryker, Kalamazoo, Mich, assignor to ()rthopedic Frame Company,Kalamazoo, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Nov. 20, 1958, Ser. No.775,286 11 Claims. (Cl. 5-62) This invention relates in general to ahospital bed and particularly to a type thereof which can be maderelatively inexpensively and yet which is capable of performing a widevariety of useful functions, including those which can be performed byexisting hospital beds and many which cannot be performed by existinghospital beds.

In the past, hospital and invalid beds have been designed by adaptingthe basic structure of conventional beds to the special needs ofpatients. Thus, in order to place the patient in a variety of clinicallydesirable positions, it has been necessary to equip existing beds with avariety of auxiliary and special mechanisms. However, even with suchadded mechanisms, the existing beds are limited primarily to raising orlowering the patients head or his feet. Other functions, such as turningthe patient over, removing the patient from the bed or supporting thepatient in certain positions, normally have to be periormed manually orwith still further and difierent auxiliary equipment.

In many instances, a patient may be capable of taking care of himself,once he is placed in a proper position to exercise such care. Forexample, if the patient is placed in an upright position, it is oftenpossible for him to negotiate small steps and to walk across the floor.However, this capability of the patient is infrequently used because theaverage hospital or patient bed is not equipped to place the patient inthe upright or erect position. Moreover, none of the existing beds,insofar as I am aware, are arranged so that the patient can adjust thebed and thereby move himself without help into the erect position.

Patient control of his own position presently requires special equipmentor a special bed, both of which are expensive, complicated and notsuitable for general purpose use. However, many hospital patients, andparticularly the post-operative patients, experience a period duringconvalescence when a bed capable of placing the patient in a variety ofpositions other than substantially supine will speed recovery, willreduce complications, will ease pain, will facilitate treatment and/ orreduce the work of persons attending the patient. Obviously, if thepatient can effect this positioning by himself, the results are in manycases appreciably improved. On the other hand, it is in other casesequally desirable that the patient be unable to change an adjustmentmade by the hospital personnel, and for such cases the controls shouldbe capable of easy inactivation.

Further, in providing means for changing the patients position,especially where nursing personnel are in attendance, it should becarried out at the maximum possible speed consistent with the reasonablecomfort of the patient. Still further the mechanism utilized forefiecting such changes in position, and especially changing the patientfrom a supine -to a prone position and vice versa, should Patented May15, 1962 quires overbed structure and/ or special structure along theside of the bed, and which is normally relatively complex and oftenunavailable in a given instance.

A great many diiferent types of traction devices are now available forattachment to existing hospital beds. However, in many instances it isnecessary to provide complicated, expensive and special overbedstructures to support such traction devices. tures and the tractiondevices tend to interfere with, or reduce the effectiveness of, at leastsome of the other normal functions of the bed. Therefore, it iscustomary to move the overbed structure and/or traction devices from bedto bed as their need arises. Because of the fact that the overbedstructure is normally considered-to be special or auxiliary equipment,it is not unusual for the manufacturer of a special type of traction orother treatment equipment, which employs overbed structure, to designsuch equipment with his own overbed structure. Thus, the problems ofduplication and/or lack of versatility and universal utility of anyparticular overbed structure become serious.

It will become apparent from the above specific recitations of thelimitations in existing hospital type bed constructions that, in orderto provide a bed construction according to existing teachings which willfill all of the needs of such a bed which are presently known to existandplace them in a single bed construction, the resultant bed structurewould be so ponderous and complicated as to make its cost prohibitive,its operation extremely difiicult, its weight excessive and, therefore,its value dubious. These considerations probably contribute to the factthat no such single bed is presently known to exist.

Thus, it has long been desirable to provide a relatively simple bedconstruction which can be manufactured and sold at an acceptable costand which will perform all of the functions of a conventional hospitalbed as well as the many other functions above mentioned but notpresently available in a standard hospital bed. Further, it has longbeen desirable to provide such bed construction wherein, if desirable,the patient can normally make many of the required adjustments of thebed by himself with the several obvious advantages derived therefrom,both in comfort to the patient and in relieving the amount of attentionrequired by the patient from the hospital personnel.

Accordingly, among the objects of the invention are the following:

(1) to provide a hospital bed construction which as a single device iscapable of performing all, or at least most, of the ordinary functionsof conventional hospital beds having the overbed and other auxiliaryequipment frequently used therewith, which bed can be manufactured andsold at a cost not materially, if at all, exceeding the present cost forconventional hospital beds together vw'th be such as to engender afeeling of security and conconsidered to be special equipment whichnormally rethe overbed and other normal auxiliary equipment;

(2) to provide a hospital bed, as aforesaid, which is also capable ofperforming a plurality of additional functions which existingconventional hospital beds are not adapted .to perform; 7

(3) to provide a hospital bed, as aforesaid, which can be readilyadjusted to change the angular position of its major axis in order toplace the patients head either above or below his feet, to place thepatients body in a prone or supine position, and which bed can beadjusted to place said body in either a'partially flexed or fullyextended position; i

(4) to provide a hospital bed, as aforesaid, wherein the change inangular position may be readily carried out by power means which iseasily controlled by the patient;

(5) to provide a hospital bed, as aforesaid, wherein a first, or lowerpatient supporting member of the bed'can be readily combined with asecond, or upper, member capable of holding the patient against saidlower rnember,

Both the overbed struc- T by which thepatient can then be readily turnedfrom a supine to a prone position, or vice versa, by rotationof oftenotherwise require when getting into or out of existing beds;

' (7) to provide a bed, as aforesaid, having a patient support which canbe manually, quickly and easily adjusted by the patientor by attendingpersonnel for moving the patient from a fully extended or supineposition to a partially flexed or sitting position, or vice versa,without aid and without materially changing the location of 7 the centerof mass of the patient,said patient support being rugged in constructionand extremely easy to prepare for use or to change as required;

(8) toprovide' a bed, as aforesaid, wherein the controls may be readilyinactivated, if desired, to prevent the [patient orunauthorizedpersonnel from changing them after they have been positionedby hospital personnel;

7 (9) to provide a bed, as aforesaid, which will hold the patientsufl'iciently firmly during the changes in his position so as toengender a feeling of comfort and security in the patient;

(10) to provide a bed, .as aforesaid, which will effect changes inposition at a maximum speed consistent with the corn-fort of thepatient;

' XIII-XIII in FIGURE 9.

(11) to provide a bed, as aforesaid, having integral carryout thevarious functions above set forth without detracting appreciably from abasically simple and at- .tractive design; and

-( 13) to provide a hospital bed, as aforesaid, which will FIGURE 14 isa sectional view taken along the line XIV-XIV in FIGURE 13.

FIGURE 15 is a sectional view similar to that shown in FIGURE 3 andincluding hoist mechanism associated with the bed construction.

FIGURE 16 is a sectional view substantially as taken along the lineXIIXII in FIGURE 8 and disclosing an alternate construction for apatient support structure.

FIGURE 17 is a sectional view also substantially as taken along the lineXII-XII in FIGURE 8 and showing a' further alternate construction forthe patient sup port structure.

FIGURE 18 is a sectional view taken along the line XVIII-XVIII in FIGURE1.

FIGURE 19 is a sectional view taken along the line XIXXIX in FIGURE 13.i

For convenience in description, the terms upper,

lower and words having a. similar meaning will have reference to thestructure embodying the invention in its normal position of operationand as appearing in FIG- URES 1, 3 and 9. V

The terms inner, outer and derivatives thereof will have reference tothe geometric center of said bed structure. The terms foot or front andhead or rear, and words having similar meanings, will have reference tothe left and right ends, respectively, of the patient support structureand base structure asappearing in FIG- URES 1, 2, 3 and 6.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The objects of the invention have been met by providing an entirely new type of hospital bed having a pair of large, spacedand coaxial rings fastened together by suitable cross bars and a patientsupport structure mounted upon and between said rings so that itslengthwise axis be capable of long and extremely economical operation, I

and will require a minimum of maintenance. e Other objects and purposesof the invention will become apparent to persons acquainted withapparatus of this type upon a reading of the following disclosure andinspection of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: a

, FIGURE 1 is a perspectiveview of a bed construction embodying theinvention. a

f FIGURE 2 is a broken sectional view taken along the line II-II inFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view substantially as taken along the lineIIIIII in FIGURE 2. 7

"FIGURE .4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIGURE 1,including a traction device.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged and broken sectional view taken along the lineVV in FIGURE 3.

- FIGURE 6 is a broken sectional view taken along the line VL-VI inFIGURE 3 FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary, end elevational view indicated bythe cutting line VII-VII in FIGURE 3.

. :FIGURE 8 is a broken, top plan view of the patient support'structnrewith the mattress and mattress support removed from the mattress frame.n

FIGURE 9 is a broken, side elevational view of said bed constructionequipped with both anterior and poste-r rior support members for thepatient. I I

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken along the line X--Xin'FIGURE 6. .1 Vv FIGURE :11 .is a sectional view taken along the line XI -XI in FIGURE6.

. 12 is a sectional view substantially as taken along the line X II XIIin FIGURE 8 and showing the patient support in the sitting position. i

is disposed substantially diametrically of said rings. Said rings aresupported upon a base structure by suitable rollers, at least one ofwhich may be power driven to effect rotation of said rings and therebyeffect tilting of the patient support. By placing a suitable retainingmemher over a patient lying fiat on the patient support and fasteningsaid member'fixedly with respect to the rings, a patient may be rotatedendwise through approximately 180 degrees and thereby moved from asupine position on the patient support to a prone position upon saidretaining member or vice versa.

The rings serve further as an integral overbed structure and may also beutilized in conjunction with the power means of the bed for lifting ortransferring the patient into and out of the patient support.

The patient support in this embodiment is arranged for 'manualadjustment, by the patient if desired, from a fiat I adjustment of thepatient support do not materially change or extended condition to aseat-shaped condition and vice versa. However, said patient support isso constructed that the changes in the patients position produced by theDetailed Construction The bed construction 10 (FIGURES 1 and 2), whichhas been selected to illustrate one embodiment of the invention,includesa bed frame 11 and a base structure 12 upon which said bed frame11 is supported for movement about a substantially horizontal axis. Thebed frame 11 is comprised of a pair of spaced, circular and coaxialrings 13 and 14 which are interconnected and held rigidly with respectto each other by crossbars of which some appear at 17, 17a, 17b, 17c and17d in FIGURE 1. Said rings and crossbars are preferably fabricated fromrigid, tubular materials, such as steel or aluminum and secured togetherby any convenient means, such as screws, bolts or welding.

An elongated, substantially rectangular patient support 18 (FIGURES l, 2and 8), which may also be fabricated primarily from tubular elements, isdisposed between said rings 13 and 14 and is supported at its oppositeends and substantially diametrically of said rings upon the cross bars17a and 1712. More specifically, the patient support 18 includes asubstantially rectangular, mounting frame 19 comprised of a pair ofsubstantially parallel side elements 23 and 24 and a pair ofsubstantially parallel end elements 21 and 22 which extend between, andare preferably integral with, the corresponding ends of the sideelements 23 and 24. The side elements have similar portions intermediatetheir ends which are laterally offset in the same direction (normallydownwardly) from a plane defined by the end elements 21 and 22. The endelements 21 and 22 (FIGURE 8), are provided with openings 26 and 27,respectively, preferably midway between their respective ends, whichpreferably extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to saidplane defined by said end elements. A pair of parallel studs 28 and 29(FIGURE 3) are secured to and extend in substantially the same directionfrom the crossbars 17a and 17b, respectively, for reception through thestud openings 26 and 27, respectively. Nuts 32 and 33 are threadedlyengageable with the studs 23 and 29 for the purposes of securing themounting frame 19 with respect to the cross bars 17a and17b, hence withrespect to the bedframe 11. The central portion 21a of the end element21 is pivotally supported with respect to the remainder of the endelement for movement around the lengthwise axis thereof, whereby thepatient support 18 can be pivoted around the axis of the end element 21.

The patient support 18 (FIGURE 8) also includes an adjustable mattressframe 34 which is substantially rectangular in shape when in itsextended position. The mattress frame includes a pair of substantiallyparallel end elements 36 and 37, and a pair of parallel outer sideelements 38 and 39 which are preferably integral with, and extendbetween the corresponding ends of, the end elements 36 and 37,respectively. The mattress frame 34 also includes a pair of inner sideelements 41 and 42, which are parallel with the outer side elements 38and 39, respectively, and are secured at their opposite ends to the endelements 36 and 37 and act to give direct support to the patients back.

A mattress 43 (FIGURE 2) is normally supported upon the mattress frame34 in any convenient manner, such as by means of the webbing 44 whichmay conveniently be secured at its ends upon the end elements 36 and 37and the outer side elements 38 and 39 by means of the arcuate springclips 46. Alternatively, other suitable support means may be used, suchas the means shown in FIGURE 14 and hereinafter described with respectto the anterior support 147. The mattress 43 is anchored upon themattress frame 34 by means of the ties 47 (FIGURE 5) which are securedto the inner side elements 41 and 42.

The inner side elements 41 and 42 are hinged at transversely alignedpoints between their corresponding ends for movement about a first axis48 (FIGURES 8 and 12) which is preferably disposed approximately midwaybetween the end elements 36 and 37 and is perpendicular to said sideelements. Said side elements are hinged along a second axis 49 disposedapproximately between said first hinge axis 48 and the end element 36,which in this particular embodiment is at the foot of the mattress frame34. Said second hinge axis 49 is parallel with the first hinge axis 48and preferably slightly closer thereto than to the end element 36.Accordingly, the first and second hinge axes 48 and 49 divide themattress frame 34 into a leg portion 52, a seat portion 53 and a backportion 54.

A pair of substantially L-sha ped brackets 56 and 57 (FIGURES l, 8 and12) are rigidly secured upon the side elements 23 and24, respectively,of the mounting frame 19 near the foot end thereof so that the apexes ofsaid brackets 56 and 57 are both spaced substantially equidistantly (andnormally upwardly) from the concave side of the mounting frame 19 andlie substantially within a plane defined by the end elements 21 and 22.The said apexes of the L-shaped brackets 56 and 57 are pivotally securedin this particular embodiment to the inner side elements 41 and 42 aboutmidway between the first and second hinge axes 48 and 49, respectively.Thus, the seat portion 53 is pivoted upon said brackets for movementabout an axis approximately midway between and parallel with said firstand second hinge axes.

A pair of parallel pivot posts 58 and 59 (FIGURE 8) are pivotallysecured at their upper ends to the inner side elements 41 and 42,respectively, at points located between the first hinge axis 48 and endelement 37. Said posts are equidistant from and relatively close to saidfirst hinge axis. The lower ends of said pivot posts, which aresubstantially identical, are pivotally mounted upon the inner sides ofthe side elements 23 and 24 of the mounting frame 19 between theL-shaped brackets 56 and 57 and the end elements 22. Accordingly, thebackportion 54 of the mattress frame 34 is supported upon the pivotposts 58 and 59.

.A pairof rollers 61 (FIGURE 1) and 62 (FIGURE 8) are rotatablysupported'by the yokes 63 and 64, respectively, upon the foot ends ofthe outer side elements 38 and39. The rollers 61 and 62 are continuouslyengageable with the side elements 23 and 24, respectively, of themounting frame 19 near the foot'end thereof. Thus, the foot end of theleg portion 52 of said mattress frame 34 is supported upon the foot endof the mounting frame 19 by means of the rollers 61 and 62. Movement ofthe mattress frame 34 from'its extended and relatively flat position ofFIGURE 3 into its sitting position of FIGURE 12 is effected by pivotingthe seat portion 53 upon the brackets 56 and 57 so that the second hingeaxis 49 moves away from the mounting frame 19 and the first hinge axis48 moves toward the mounting frame 19. This causes both the leg portion52 and back portion 54 of mattress frame 34 to move toward the center ofthe patient support 18.

A rod 66 (FIGURES 1 and 8) extends perpendicularly between the sideelements 23 and 24 of the mounting frame 19, preferably along the pivotaxis of the pivot posts 58 and 59 upon said mounting frame. A lockingarm 67 is pivotally supported at one end upon the back portion 54 of themattress frame 34 between the side elements, 41 and 42, and adjacent tothe first hinge axis 48. The arm 67 has a plurality of notches 68 alongone edge into which the rod 66 is receivable. for preventing relativemovement between the mattress frame 34 and the mountmg frame 19.Resilient means, such as the spiral spring 69, is secured at itsopposite ends to the locking arm 67 and the mounting frame 19 (FIGURE 1)for the purpose of urging the locking arm 67 continuously intoengagement with the rod 6-6. A U-shaped' handle bar 71 is secured to theupper end of the locking arm 67 so that the arms 72 and '73 extendupwardly alongside the mattress frame 34 when the locking arm 67 is inengagement with the rod 66. The upper ends of the arms 72 and 73 arepositioned so that they can be manually engaged by a patient recliningin a supine position upon the mattress 43 for the purpose of pivotingthe locking arm 67 away from engagement with the rod 66 to adjust theposition of the mattress frame 34.

The crossbars 17c and 17d (FIGURE 1), which are secured between therings 13 and 14, are located near to but spaced from the crossbars 17aand 17b, respectively. A foot rest 74 is mounted by means of the clamps76 (FIGURE 1) upon the crossbar 17a so that said foot rest extendsupwardly past the inner side of the crossbar 17c .and preferably liesentirely within a cylinder defined by the rings 13 and 14.

1 T e c ssba s 'a d e b s s r ctu 1 a r e so that, when the patientsupport 18 is in a substantially vertical position (FIGURE 15), there isno interference from these members to the free movement of a patientbetween the rings 13 and 14 into and out of a position adjacent to themattress 43. The foot rest 74 is disposed very close to the floor ,83when said support 18 is in its sol d e po nof GURE an e e as a mp- 77and the mounting frame 19 occurs adjacent to the pivot posts 58 and 59,which extend slightly below the side elements of the mounting frame tolimit the move: ment of the brace member 77 along s id mounting frame.

As shown in FIGURE 9, the brace member 77 can be pivoted into a positionwhere'the upper side element 79 thereof can be received over the headend of'the frame 19; whereby the patient support 18 is held in a nona'operative position for reaso s appearing hereinafter. Pins 81 aresecured to, and extend upwardly from the'side elements 23 and 24 of theframe 19. near the head end thereof for engagement by the upper element79' when said frame is being held in the non-operative position.

The base structure 12 (FIGURES 1 and 6), is generally U-shaped andcomprised of a pair of spaced, substantially parallel side beams 86 and87, which are preferably metallic and tubular in this embodiment. Atubular cross beam 88 is secured to and extends between said side beams86 and 87 near the rear ends of each, which are the head end of the bedstructure in this embodiment. Said base structure also includes fourswiveled and castered wheels 89 which are mounted upon and extenddownwardly from the side beams 86 and 87. A pair of plates 91 and 92 aresupported upon the front ends of the side beams 86 and 87 so that theylie substantially within the same horizontal plane and so that theyextend slightly beyond the ends of the respective side beams. Thefront'casters are preferablysupported upon the plates 91 and 92. i

A of rollers 93 and 94 (FIGURE 6) ,are rotatably supported upon theplate 91 for the purpose of engaging and partially supporting the ring13. A pair of similar s A pair of stop pins 108 and 109 are mounted uponand rollers 96 and 97 are rotatably supported upon the plate 7 92 forthe purpose of partially supporting the ring 14. A shaft 98 (FIGURE 4)is rotatably supported upon and between the bearings 99 and 100 (FIGURE4) which are supported upon the lower sides of the side beams 86 and 87,respectively, adjacent to the cross beam 88 (FIGURE 6). A pair ofrelatively large rollers 103 and 104 are mounted upon and rotatable withthe shaft 98 adjacent to the side beams 86 and 87, respectively, for

engaging and partiallyfsupporting the rings 13 and 14, respectively.Acc0rdingly,the rings 13 and 14 are rotatably engaged by andsupportedupon the rollers 93, 94, 96, 97, 103 and 104 for rotation of the bedframe 11 about the common axis of the rings Band 14. Said rollers areall preferably disposed within the zone defined by the castered wheels89. The bed frame 11 is rotated by the large rollers103 and 104, which,for this reason,

are preferably provided with nod-skid material such as relatively softrubber, on their peripheral surfaces. Other types of more or lesspositive engaging means may, if

desired, be provided between said rollers 103 and 104 and the rings 13and 14, respectively.

1A pair of spaced, substantially Z-shapecl positioning members 106 and107 (FIGURES l and 6) are mounted the head end of the patient support18. The positioning members 106 and 107 are arranged on said beam 86 sothat their flanges 111 and 112 are engageable by the stop pins 108 and109, respectively, thereby limiting the rotational movement of the bedframe 11 to approximately 270", in this particular embodiment. 1

As show with respect to the positioning member 107 in FIGURE 10, ahold-down roller 113 is rotatably supported upon the inner side of saidmember 107 for the purpose of engaging the inner surface of the ring 13and holding it firmly against and continuously in engagement with thelarge roller 103. A thrust roller 114'is rotatably supported upon thepositioning member 107 for engaging the outer axial side of the ring 13and thereby limiting the axial movement of said ring toward the sidebeam 86. Rollers similar to the hold-down roller 113 and thrust roller114 are mounted upon the posi? tioning member 106 for positioning thering 13 with re- 1 and 6) which may be and preferably are mirror imagesof the positioning members 106 'and'107, are mounted upon the side beam87 for the purpose of positioning the ring 14 with respect to therollers 96, 97 and 104, and said side beam 87.

While the rollers thus far described for the purpose of supporting andpositioning the rings 13 and 14 are sufficient to provide asatisfactorily operative device, still further guide and/ or supportingrollers may be supplied as desired. For example, the guide rollers 101and 102 (FIGURE 18) are rotatably mounted in this embodiment upon thecover sheet 136 (FIGURE 1) for and holding the ring 13 accurately withinthe groove of the driving roller 103. A similar set of guide rollers mayperform the same function with respect to this ring 14.

The shaft 98 has a gear 121 (FIGURE 11) mounted thereon and engageableby a worm 122, both of which are disposed the housing 123. The housing123 is held against rotation around and with respect to the shaft 98 bymeans of the bracket 124 which is secured to and between said housing123 and the cross beam 88 (FIGURE 11). The worm shaft 125 extendsthrough the side ofthe housing 123 where it supports and is se-. curedto a pulley 126. V

A pair of motor support brackets 127 and 128 (FIG- URE 6 are mountedupon thecross beam 88 and extend rearwardly therefrom for the purpose ofsupporting the, motor 129 in an inverted position so that the motorshaft 132 extends forwardly beneath said cross beam 88. A pulley 133ismounted upon the motor shaft 132 so that it is substantially radiallyaligned with the worm pulley 126. A belt 134 drivingly connects themotor pulley 133 with the worm pulley 126. It will be apparent that thepulleys 126 and 133 and the belt 134 may be replaced by a pair ofsprockets and a chain or some other type of driving connection.

A cover-sheet 136 (FIGURE 1) is supported upon and between the sidebeams 86 and 87 so that it extends from a line located forwardly of theshaft 98 over the cross beam 88 and the motor 129 to the rearward endsof the side beams 86 and 87. The motor 129 is electrically connectibleto a source of electrical energy, not shown, by

9 129, hence the bed frame 11, and an off-on switch 144 for energizingsaid motor 129 and thereby efiecting rotation of said bed frame 11. Themotor 122 is, therefore, preferably of the relatively slow speed typecapable of reversible operation. Separate motors may, of course, be usedif preferred.

Under normal circumstances, the patient support 18 serves as a posteriorsupport upon which the patient is placed in the supine or sittingposition. A retaining member 147 (FIGURES 9 and 13) provides an anteriorsupport for said patient when in the prone or partially erect position.Said retaining member 147 has a substantially rectangular and elongatedframe 148 which is preferably fabricated from tubular steel and is ofabout the same length and width as the mounting frame 19. Said frame 148includes apair of substantially parallel end elements 149 and 151 whichare supported, respectively, upon the crossbars 17c and 17d (FIGURE 1)in a manner similar to that set forth above With respect to the mountingframe 19 and the crossbars 17a and 17b. Studs 152 and 153, which areengageable by nuts 154 and 156, respectively, are provided on thecrossbars 17c and 17d for the purpose of securing said frame 148 withrespect to the bed frame 11.

The frame 148 (FIGURES 9 and 13) includes a pair of side elements 157-and 158 which are preferably integral with, and extend between thecorresponding ends of, the end elements 149 and 151. Brace bars 159(FIG- URE 9) may be provided between and secured to said side elements157 and 158 for strengthening purposes. A pad supporting sheet 161(FIGURE 14), which is preferably fabricated from a resiliently flexiblematerial is stretched between and around the central portions of theside elements 157 and 158 and held under tension by elastic bands 162which extend between and are secured to the lateral edges of the sheet161. A pad 163 is sup ported upon the sheet 161 and held thereon bymeans of a cover sheet 164 which is secured by means of ties 166 alongits lateral edges to the bands 162. It will be understood that othertypes of pads and pad supports may be provided as desired. For example,the mattress support structure of FIGURE 2 may be used. Moreover, itwill be recognized that the pad support sheet 161 in combination withthe elastic bands 162 may be used upon the mattress frame 34 for thepurpose of supporting the mattress 43 with only minor modifications toallow for passing the ties 47 through the support sheet.

A head rest 167 is mounted upon the side elements 157 and 158, insubstantially the same manner as set forth above with respect to thebody support 168 and is spaced from the body support 168. A foot boardor plate 168 is adjustably mounted upon and between the side elements157 and 158 adjacent to the foot of the body support 169. Accordingly,the patient shown in broken lines at 169 in FIGURE 9 can be supportedupon the foot plate 168, body support 160 and head rest 167 in a proneor partially tilted position so that he is able to look through thespace between the head rest 167 and the body support 160.

The foot board 168 is disclosed herein as adjustable and consists of aflat, substantially rectangular member 231 (FIGURE 19) having notchm 232and 233 in adjacent corners thereof. A pair of parallel pins 234 and 235are mounted upon said member 231 in any convenient manner so that theyextend along one side each of said notches 232 and 233, respectively.One desirable arrangement for securing said pins to said member 231includes the provision of further notches 236 and 2-37 in opposite edgesof the member 231 adjacent to the notches 232 and 233, respectively. Thepins 234 and 235 are tightly held within said notches 236 and 237 bystraps 238 and 238a which overlay said pins and are fastened to themember 231 in any convenient manner, such as by the rivets 239.

A plurality of openings 241 and 242 (FIGURE 13) are provided within thetubular side of elements'157 and 158, respectively, for reception of thepins 234 and 235 whereby the adjustable foot board may be placed in avariety of positions as desired. A pair of detents 243 and 244 aremounted upon the member 231 so that they extend into the notches 232 and233, respectively. Said detents are arranged to engage the side elements157 and 158 and releasibly hold the foot board 168 in engagementtherewith; Means, such as the spring 246 shown with the detent 243,resiliently urge the detents into their extended positions.

By adding the suspension device 172 (FIGURE 15) to the bed frame 11, thebed construction 10 may be used for lifting or transferring a patientinto or out of a position upon or adjacent to the mattress 43. Thesuspension device 172 comprises a sling 173 suspended from a crossbar174 which is pivotally and removably supported at its opposite ends uponadjacent portions of the rings 13 and 14. The sling 173 includes a pairof elongated support elements, one of which is shown -at176 in FIG URE15, which are secured at one end of, each to the crossbar 174. In thisembodimennsaid support element 176 is shown as a chain. The lower endsof each support element are removably engageable by means, such as thestiffening rod 178, which is secured to each end of a sling seat 177,said sling seat maybe an elongated sheet of relatively stiffmaterial,,such as canvas, which is flexible and durable. The suspensiondevice 172 is arranged so that when the patient support is in its FIGURE1 position, the sling seat 177 will be resting upon the mattress 43;Thus, when the patient support 18 is in its solid line position ofFIGURE 15, the sling seat 177 will be adjacent to means, such as theseat of a wheel chair 179, from which or onto which the patient may bemoved. The sling seat 177 can be removed from its support elements andplaced under the patient, often by himself, either while said patient ison the wheel chair or on the mattress 43, after which it is connected tosaid support elements. The suspension device 172 and mattress 43 aremoved respectively through their broken line positions 172a and 43a inFIG- URE 15 during the transfer operation.

The bed frame 11 (FIGURES 3, 4 and 7) can be utilized for supportingvarious types of traction apparatus. In FIGURES 3 and 7, a head sling182 is secured to one end of an elongated flexible element 183, such asa rope, the other end of which is secured to a weight 184.

A pulley 191 is supported upon the crossbar 17d so that it hangsdownwardly therefiom when the patient support is in the substantiallyhorizontal position. The rope 183 may be of such length that the patientcan control the period of traction by operating the switch 141 so thatthe weight 184 is either suspended above oris supported upon, the floor83. Where greater flexibility of movement is desired for the bed frame11 while the patient is in traction, the apparatus shown in FIGURE 4 may.be used.

A first pulley 186 is supported upon the crossbar 17d for rotation aboutan axis substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by thecrossbars 17c and 17a. A rod 187 is also supported upon said crossbar17d by means including the stud 153 and nut 156 so that it is substantially parallel with the crossbar 17d and extends substantially beyondone end thereof. A second pulley 188 is supported upon the outer end ofthe rod 187 by means of a bracket 18? for rotation about an axistransverse of the lengthwise axis of the rod 187. The bracket 189 ispreferably arranged so that it permits limited pivotal movement of thepulley 188 around the axis of the rod 187. The rope 183a is threadedaround the pulleys 186 and 188 so that the weight 184a is suspendedbelow the second pulley 188. It will be apparent that by placing thesecond pulley 188 sidewardly of the bed frame 11, said bed frame can berotated about its axis without materially, if at all, changing thetraction tension on the head sling 182 (FIGURE 3). Accordingly, theposition of the patient can be changed materially for comfort in apredetermined position with respect to the patient support 18,particularly whensame is in a position of extreme tilting, such as thatindicated in FIGURES 9 or 15. In such case, a shorter mattress'43 wouldbe used in order to insert the adjustable foot board between themattress and the end element 37 (FIGURE 8) and also to expose the sideelements 41 and 42 for engagement by said adjustable foot board.

7 Operation The castered and swiveled wheels 89 (FIGURE 1) perhit easymovement of the bed construction 10 around and upon a supporting surfacesuch as a floor 83, by manual asses m n o he b d me 11. Rotational mornent of the bed frame 11 with respect to the base strucs ture 12 isalso easily effected by operation of the control switch 141. The contourof the mattress 43 can be changed by the patientwhile supported upon thematt ess 43 by pus in one--' f t s '72 d 73 t w r th oot o e s ppoufrmc, w reby e a '7 s sen age r m t e rod 6- J By proper operation of theswitch 141, the bed frame 11 can be moved about its axisiso that thelengthwise extent of the mattress 43 is disposed at any desired anglewith respect to the floor 83, Accordingly, it is possible for; a partialinvalid reclining upon the mattress 43 to pivot said mattress into thesubstantially vertical position (FIG- brake to positively preventmovement of the rings 13 and 14 about their common axis, except when sodriven by the motor 129.

. When the patient desires to return to a recliningposition upon themattress 43, said patient steps upon the footrest 74 and leans, backagainst said mattress 43 after which the control switch 141 maybeoperated by the patient so that the mattress 43 is pivoted back throughthe broken line position shown at 43a in FIGURE 15 and then into thesubstantially. horizontal position shown in FIGURE 1. Thus, the patientor partial invalid who is able to walk slightly, but is unable to, bendwithout pain or aid, can get into and out of the bed construction 10without I assistance and without exerting nearly the effort required to,getfinto or'out of a conventional bed, particularly of the hospitaltype, when it is disposed in a substantially 1 conventional position, asappearing in FIGURE 1.

The retaining; member 147 permits quick and easy movement of the patientfrom'the supine position upon the mattress 43 to a. prone position uponthe retaining member 147 or any intermediate position such as thatshownin FIGURE 9, simply by rotating the bed frame 11 about its axis.The position and arrangement of the bed frame 11 in FIGURE 9 permits thepatient. with-a hip and neck cast or a neck traction to watch aconventional television set, a moving picture or the like. The weight 184 used in traction can swing freely as the bed frame 11 rotates,Without changing the traction tension.

The portions of'the rings 13 and 14 above the patient support 18 provideoverbed structure to support an oxygen tent, pr-ivacy shields, tractionequipment, transfusion and intravenous feeding apparatus, toys forchildren, exercising equipment and the like. The patient can controlintermittent traction without any aid by moving the bed frame into andout of a position where the weight 184 or 1844 issupported upon thefloor. The motor 129 7 12 can also be connected to means for effectingautomatic oscillation of the bed frame in order to aid breathing, forexample;

The suspension device 172 can be mounted upon the bed frame 11 so thatit can be used to move a convalescing patient or invalid between themattress 43 and another supporting device, such as the wheel chair 179.In so doing, the seat 177 of the sling 173 is placed beneath saidpatient while reclining upon the mattress 43 or seated upon the wheelchair. This can be accomplished in many cases by the patient withouthelp. The seat 177 is then connected to the support elements 176 of thesling 173 and the control switch 141 is operated so that the patient is,for example, moved from the mattress 43 into a position upon the wheelchair 179. Movement from the wheel chair to the bed proceeds similarlyin reverse. Thus, the suspension device 172 and the bed frame 11 can beused by an otherwise dependent patient or invalid to move himselfbetween a bed and a Wheel chair either with no aid or with much lesshelp than is presently required with conventional types of beds. It willbe seen that this greatly reduces the amount of attention which must begiven to convalescent patients or invalids and, by giving greatermobility to such patients, provides a therapeutic effect.

If it is desired to locate the patient relatively close to the floor,the brace member 77 may be rotated out of its FIGURE 1 position and thepatient support 18 may be then rotated about the end element 21 andbrought to rest against the crossbar 78, the rings 13 and 14 beingrotated so that the patient support will be at whatever angle to thehorizontal as is desired.

In certain instances it will be desirable to limit the rotation of theapparatus so that the patient will be unable to rotate himself beyond apredetermined point. This may be readily accomplished by securing anykind of temporary stop device at any desired position on eitheror bothof the rings 13 and 14. For example, it may be undesirable for thepatient to rotate himself forwardly beyond the position shown by thebroken lines at 43a in FIGURE 15; In such case, an ordinary C-clamp canbe secured to either or both of the rings 13 and 14 in such positionthat they will engage the roller 93 and/or the roller 96 at the pointwhere rotation of the rings '13 and 14 is to be limited. 1

Alternate SII'LZCZMIES While one particular preferred embodiment of theposterior or patient support 18 has been above described and illustratedin detail, it will be recognized that a variety of other posteriorsupports may be utilized Within the scope of the invention, suchsupports being designable particularrly to accomplish a variety ofdifferent purposes. For example, some posterior supports may be designedprimarily to move the leg portion of a patient while others are designedto move the back portion, or to provide a combination of both movements.All such designs will, however, preferably be of such nature that theadjustment thereof does not materially shift the patients center ofgravity with respect to the common axes of the rings 13 and 14. Thus,although some unbalance will be normal, the operation of the apparatusof the invention will be facilitated by maintaining the patients centerof gravity as close as possible to the said axes of said rings. Further,in such modified posterior. support designs, said shifting will move thepatients body around the center of gravity substantially coincident witha pivot point on the posterior support. In this way the adjustment ofthe patients position with respect to the posterior support can be.carried out easily, often by the patient himself and at least with aminimum of external assistance. The following described modifiedposterior supports are illustrative of some of these possibilities.

The patient support 196 of FIGURE 16 may be generallysimilar to thepatient support 18 of FIGURE 12.

The major difference resides in the fact that the locations of theL-shaped brackets, one of which is indicated at 197, and the pivotposts, one of which is shown at 198, are reversed from their positionsas appearing in the patient support 18. That is, the back portion 199 ofthe mattress frame 2 11 is mounted upon the L-shaped bracket 197 and theseat portion 292 of said mattress frame is mounted upon the pivot post198. The operation and adjustment of the patient support 196 issubstantially the same as set forth hereinabove with respect to thepatient support 18. However, when the mattress frame 201 is moved fromthe extended position to the sitting position 201a, the leg portion 203of the frame 2M moves toward the center of the support 196' more thandoes the leg portion 52 of the frame 34 under similar circumstances. Theback portion 199, on the other hand, moves less toward the center thandoes the back portion 54 under the same conditions.

The patient support 296 (FIGURE 17) includes a mounting frame 297 andmattress support frame 208 which may be identical to the mounting frame19 and the mattress frame 34, respectively, in the patient support 18.The back portion 269 of the mattress frame 208 is pivotally supportedupon the upper ends of pivot posts, one of which is shown at 211, insubstantially the same manner as set forth hereinabove with respect tothe pivot posts 58 and 59 of the patient support 18. The leg portion 212of the mattress frame 203 is rigidly secured to the mounting frame 269by support bars, two of which are shown at 213 and 214. Accordingly,adjustment of the mattress frame 298 into the sitting position, asindicated in broken lines at 208a, results in a substantial movement ofthe back portion 209 toward the center of the patient support 206 whilethe leg portion 212 of the mattress frame remains in its originalposition.

Accordingly, it will be seen that in the patient support 18, both theback and leg portions of the frame 34 tend to move about the same amounttoward the center of the patient support, whereas the patient supports1% and 266 tend to emphasize the movement of the leg and back portions,respectively, toward the center of their respective structures. However,none of this movement is sufficient to displace the patients center ofgravity materially with respect to the common axes of the rings 13 and14,

and hence the basic organization of the apparatus is maintained.

Although the patient supports 18, 196 and 296 have been described indetail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that other formsof patient support structures, either with or without the type ofadjustment shown herein, may be utilized in conjunction with the bedframe 11 for the purpose of carrying out at least a sub stantial numberof the objects of the invention. A

One or more side rails, such as that shown at 216 in FIGURE 17, may beremovably supported upon the ends of a support member 217, which may beincluded in any one of the forms of patient support discussed above.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has beendisclosed in detail above for illustrative purposes, it will beunderstood that variations or modifications of such disclosure, whichlie within the scope of the appended claims, are fully contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. A hospital bed for supporting a patient for movement around asubstantially horizontal axis extending transverse to the lengthwiseextent of his body, comprising: a base and wheels supporting same; apair of coaxial, circular rings supported on said base for rotationabout a substantially horizontal axis; a plurality of connectingelements extending between and rigidly connecting said rings, twoadjacent connecting elements being sufficiently spaced from each otherto define an unobstructed zone between said rings so that a patient in asubstantially erect position can be moved between said rings throughsaid zone; a jointed mattress support including a frame located betweenand extending substantially across said rings and means releasablysecuring the respective ends of said frame to selected ones of saidconnecting elements for holding said frame in one position substantiallydiametrical of said rings, said frame being pivotally movable around oneend thereof into another position; a mattress mounted on said mattresssupport and having a patient receiving surface facing said zone;adjustable linkage means on said mattress support for holding saidmattress in selected positions so that the contour of the mattress maybe adjusted; holding means mounted on said rings and releasablyengageable with said mattress support near the other end of said framefor holding said frame in said other position when said other endthereof is detached from its associated connecting element.

2. A hospital bed according to claim 1 in which a locking device ismounted on said linkage and extends therefrom toward said frame andincluding means on said frame for engaging said locking device in aplurality of.

selectable positions so that the linkage can be held in a plurality ofarrangements with respect to said frame; and manually operable means formoving said locking device between said positions.

3. A hospital bed according to claim 1 wherein said holding meansincludes a pivotally mounted brace memher having a pair of legsextending parallel with the planes defined by said rings and a centralportion extending transverse to said planes, said central portion in oneposition of said brace member extending into engagement with theunderside of said frame to support same, said central portion in anotherposition thereof being received over an end of said frame to hold saidframe in said other position.

4. A hospital bed for supporting a patient for movement around asubstantially horizontal axis extending transversely of the lengthwiseextent of the patient, comprising: a base structure and wheelssupporting same; a pair of coaxial, circular rings supported upon saidbase structure for rotation around a substantially horizontal axis; aplurality of connecting elements extending between and rigidlyconnecting said rings, two adjacent connecting elements being spacedfrom each other to define an unobstructed zone between said ringsthrough which a patient can be moved in "a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the lengthwise extent of said patient; a support framelocated between and extending across said rings, and means forreleasably securing the ends of said frame to selected ones of saidconnecting elements for holding said support frame in a first positionsubstantially diametrical of said rings, said support frame beingpivotable around a connecting element near one end thereof into a secondposition'spaced from said first position; holding means mounted upon andbetween said rings and releasably engageable with said support framenear the other end thereof for holding same in said second position; anelongated, jointed mattress frame extending lengthwise of said supportframe and having three sections hingedly connected together for movementaround a pair of spaced, hinged axes parallel with said axis ofrotation; support members connecting said mattress frame to said supportframe whereby said sections of said mattress frame can be relativelymoved into a plurality of positions with respect to each other, twoadjacent sections of said mattress frame being simultaneously movablewith respect to said support frame; and lock means for posi tivelyholding said mattress frame in said positions.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein one of said hinge axes isapproximately midway between the ends of the mattress frame and theother hinge axis is approximately midway between the one hinge axis andone end of the mattress frame; and wherein said support members includefirst support elements rigidly securing with respect to the supportframe the section of said mattress frame adjacent to said one endthereof, and second support elements pivotally secured near theiropposite ends upon and V tress -frarne'adjacent to the other endthereof.

6. The structure of claim 4 wherein one of said hinge axes isapproximately midway between the ends of the mattress frame and theother hinge axis is approximately midway between the one hinge axis andone end of the mattress frame; wherein said support members includefirst support elements rigidly 'secured to said support frame andpivotally engaging the middle section of said mattress frameapproximately midway between said hinge axes for movement about a pivotaxis parallel with said hinge axes, and second support elementspivotally secured near their opposite ends upon and between the supportframe and the section of said mattress frame adjacent to the other endthereof; and including means for movably supporting said one end of saidmattress frame with respect to said support frame.

7. The structure'of claim 4 wherein one of said hinge axes isapproximately midway between the ends of the mattress frame and theother hinge axis is approximately midway between the one hinge axis andone end of the mattress frameywherein said support members include firstsupport elements rigidly secured to said support frame and pivotallyengaging that section of said mattress frame between the other endthereof and said one hinge axis, and second support elements pivotallysecured near one end thereof upon said support frame and pivotallysecured near the other end thereof to said mattress frame subsstantially at said other hinge axis, the pivot axes of said secondelements being substantially parallel with said other hinge axis; andmeans movably supporting said 7 one end of said mattress frame withrespect to said support frame.

' 8. A hospital bed according to claim 4 wherein one of bers includefirst and second support elements, said first.

support elements being rigidly secured to said support frame andpivotally engaging said mattress frame between the other end thereof andsaid one hinge axis for movement of said mattress frame around an axisparallel with said one hinge axis, said second support elements beingpivotallysecured near one end thereof upon said support frame andpivotally secured near the other end thereof to said mattress framebetween, said hinge axes, the pivot axes of said second support elementsbeing subs stantiallyparallel With said hinge axes; and means movablysupporting said mattress frame adjacent said one end thereof upon saidsupport frame. g

9. A hospital bed for supporting a patient for movement around asubstantially horizontal axis extending 16 a transversely of thelengthwise extent of said patient, comprising: a pair of spaced, coaxialrings having substantially the same diameter, and a plurality ofconnecting elements secured to and extending between said rings; anelongated patient support having a patient engaging surface, and meansfor supporting said patient support between andsubstantiallydiametrically across said rings, the space between said ringssubstantially opposite the entire patient engaging surface beingunobstructed; a base frame including a pair of substantially parallel,elongated side members and cross members secured to and extendingbetween said side members near 'one end thereof; a plurality of groundengaging wheels secured to and projecting downwardly from said baseframe; a plurality of circular elements rotatably supported upon andbetween said side members for rotatably engaging and supporting saidrings for rotation around a substantially horizontal axis; drive meanson said base frame connected to said rings for effecting rotationthereof; and holding means secured to said side members and extending atleast partially through said rings for engaging same and therebyobstructing movement of said rings away from said circular elements in adirection substantially radially of said rings.

10, The structure of claim'9 wherein said base frame is U-shaped so thatthe space between the other ends of said side members is unobstructed;and including remotely controllable, manually operable means connectedto said drive means for operation thereof by a patient disposed on saidpatient engaging surface.

11. A hospital bed according to claim 9 including a relatively largeroller drivingly engaging each of said rings; an electric motor mountedon said base frame and connected for simultaneously rotating saidrollers at the same speed; and a manually operable switch for energizingsaid motor.

ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

